Counting mechanism



Feb. 15 1927.;

' O. L. SEWARD COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Aua 27 1925 2 Sheets-5heet l Feb. 15,1927.

O. L. SEWARD COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 27 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 b ur/v70? @wm4 WW Patented Feb. 15, 19.21..

PATENT OFFICE.

, owmt L. snwann, or mnmmv, commoner;

COUNTING Application, filed August 27, 1925. Serial 110. 52,774.

This invention relates more particularly to the transfer movements or carry-up mechanisms of counting-devices, and it is especially adapted for, commercial counters 8. which are provided for enumerating the actions of rapidly operatedmachines. The object of the invention is to so design and arrange, the transfer elements that the device ma be constructed with a minimum number o parts whichco-act smoothly and thereby can be produced at a low cost and can be run for an indefinite period at high speeds. without breaking down or getting out of repair.

' In mechanisms of "this class as one numeral wheel is given a complete revolution the numeral wheel of the next higher denomination is turned one step. In prior structures in order that the number on the on higher wheel remains exposed before a window in the casing for substantially all of the revolution of the lower wheel and turn during a short part of the movement of the lower wheel, ratchet and pawl mechanisms, 2 worm wheels and worms, and a plurality of intermediate gears, have-been employed for efi'ecting the transfer movements from the lower to the higher numeral wheels. The object of the present invention is attained so by the use of directly engaged eccentric or elliptical gears driving a crank and star wheel for transmitting the movements from the lower to the higher wheels, and thereby in a smooth, easy and durable manner, with a gradual yet rapid action, obtain quick transfer movements without the interposition of the prior more complicated mecha-' nisms.

The invention is applicable to both dial counters, that is, those in which the numerals are placed on the faces of disks, and to cylinder counters, that is those in which the numerals are located on the peripheries of wheels.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is ,a face view of a dial counter showing the numeral disks as in the act of moving. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a partial section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 33 on Fig. 2, the transfer elements being shown in mid position as when turning all of the disks.

Fig. 4 is a face view of a single transfer unit with the elements related as after the higher disk has been turned. Fig. 5 is atransverse section of a cylinder counter on the plane indicated by the dotted line 5-5 on Fig. 6, the elements being shown in mid position. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the cylinder counter with the casing and portions of the other elements in section.

In the form of dial counter illustrated there isa frame consisting of a front plate 1 tinuously rotated from any suitable part of the machine, the actions of which it is desired to count. Attached to this spindle is an eccentric gear 12 that is engaged with an eccentric gear 13 fastened to the short spindle 14 which is rotarily supported bythe front frame plate and by an intermediate plate 15. The eccentricities of these gears in the form shown are as three to one, and

they are so engaged that the longer radius of one meshes with the shorter radius of the other. Fastened to the eccentric gear 13 is adisk 16 and projectin forwardly from this disk is a crank pin 1 This pin .is designed to enter the notches 18 in a star wheel 19 which is fastened to the spindle 20, rotarily mounted in the frame plates. Fastenedto the front end of the spindle 20 is the second or next higher numeral disk 21 and to the back end an eccentric gear 22.

The eccentric gear 22 meshes with an eccentric gear 23 fastened on the short spindle 24 that is rotarily supported by the back frame plate and an intermediate plate 25. Attached to the gear 23 is a disk 26 that has a forwardly extending crank in 27 designed to enter the notches 28 o the star wheel 29 that is fastened to the spindle 30 which is rotarily supported by the frame plates and has attached to its f ont end the next higher numeral disk 31.

numeral disk 21 one step,

to be exposed through the window 8. At the d When this device is applied to a machine and the driving spindle 11 is rotated the digits on the lowest disk are exposed in succession through the first window 7. As the driving spindle and lowest disk about com plete one rotation the eccentric gears 12 and 13 carry the crank pin 17 into a slot of the star wheel. 19 and turn it and the second causing a figure tenth turn of the star wheel and disk 21 the eccentric gears 22 and 23 through the crank pin 27 and star wheel 29 give the numeral disk 31 one turn, that is, after each nine rotatory movements and during the tenth movement of a lower disk the next higher disk is turned one step. But three numeral disks and two transfer mechanisms are illustrated. These, however, may be multiplied by. the addition of other disks and transfer mechanisms as many times as desired in order that the counter may show as high a reading as is required.

The elliptical gears are so related that when the short radius of a driving gear is engaged with the long radius of a driven gear, the speed of the driven gear to the speed of the driving gear is as one to three, and when the long radius of the drivmg gear is engaged with the short radius of the driven gear the speed of the driven gear to the speed of the driving gear is as rapidly. Furthermore three to one, or in other words, the speed of the'driven gear varies as from one to nine, consequently when the crank pin rotated by the driven gear enters the slot of a star wheel, the star wheel is turned one step very the crank pin carried by the gear that is driven enters the slot of the star wheel tangentially and without violentimpact and as it is closeto the axis of the driven gear this tends to increase the speed of the star wheel. In the design illustrated each star wheel is moved one step in about one-tenth of a revolution of the lower driving gear, with a smooth and easy, yet quick movement.

In the cylindrical type of counter trated there is removable head illusa circular casing 32 with a 33 at one side and a window 34 in the periphery. Thedriving spindle b 35is rotarily mounted in the head and carries a disk 36 to which an elliptical gear 37 is fastened. The ar 37 engages with'an elliptical gear 38 t at is fastened to a disk 39 on arbor 40 which is rotarily supported by the head and a plate 41 fixed to the head.'

The disk 39 has a crank pin 42 that is designedto engage the slots 43 of a star wheel his star wheel is attached to a disk 45 fastened to a shaft 46, which is supported by a partition wall 47 and a plate 48 fixed to the head. The numeral disk 49 is also fastened to the shaft 46. An elliptical gear 50 is attached to the shaft 46 and this gear is engaged with a similar gear 51' that is arranged to, through a crank pin and. star wheel, rotate the numeral wheel 52. The same elements are arranged between the wheel 52 and the wheel 53 for driving the latter. The transfer mechanisms of this cylindrical counter are the same as those previously described in connection with the ial counter, and the number of numeral wheels and transfer mechanisms may be added to indefinitely, in order that the counter may indicate the required actions of the machine to which it is to be applied.

As a result of the use of elliptical, eccentric or similar gears and the cranks and star wheels in these transfer trains the last or tenth movement of each lower numeral wheel is transmitted to the next upper wheel very rapidly and very smoothly, without the employment of intermediate gears for obtainwhich act intermittently and with blows, or

worms and worm wheels, which com licate the structure. The gears may be elllptical or eccentric, and while the term elliptical is used in the claims as qualifying the gears, it is to be understood that that term is intended to include elliptical, eccentric and similar or. mechanically equivalent gears which will transmit a variable movement from a lower to a higher wheel. It is also to be understood that while the term wheels is used in the claims, that term is intended to designate both disks and cylinders.

The invention claimed is:

1. A counter having 'a casing containing lower and higer rotatable numeral bearing wheels, an elliptical driving gear rotatable with'the lower of said wheels, an elliptical driven gear intermeshing with the driving gear, and means rotated by said gears for imparting intermittent rotative movements to the higher of said wheels.

2. A counter having a casing contammg lower and higher rotatable numeral bearing wheels, an elliptical driving gear rotatable with the lower of said wheels, an elliptical driven gear intermeshing with the driving gear, and a crank and a star wheel driven y said gearsand adapted to rotate the higher of said wheels.

3. A counter having a casing containing lower and higher rotatable numeral bear ing wheels, an eliptical drivin gear rot-atable with the lower of said wheels, an elliptical driven gear intermeshing with the driving gear, a crank pin rotatable with the driven gear, and a star wheel engaged by the crank pin and adapted to rotate the higher of said wheels.

4. A counter having a casing containing rotatable numeral wheels, a pair of variable speed intermeshing gears arranged between said wheels and intcrmittently lrotatmittentjrotative movements to said driven l rotated by said gears for imparting intered by one of said wheels, and means rotated Wheel. I r

v by said gears and adapted to impart quick 6. A transfer movement for acounter comint-erinittent rotative movements to the prising a driven wheel, an elliptical driving I higher of said wheels. A gear,- an elliptical driven gear, a crank r0- 5. A transfer movement for a counter comtzrted with the driven gear, and a star wheel 15 prising a driven wheel, anelliptical driving connected with said driven wheel and 1'9- gear, an elliptical driven gear, and. means tated by the crank.

OWEN- L. S EWARD. 

